210 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



of the British Ornithologists' Club on October 13th, 1915, 

 stated that it was obtained in the west of Ireland on a lake 

 about fifty miles from the sea. He particularly remarked 

 that owing to its state of immaturity it could not possibly 

 have reached this lake from the sea so far away, although it 

 might conceivably have flown a very short distance. 



The officer who shot this Grebe — unaware of the species 

 - — -has been away on service, but his father has kindly given 

 me particulars. The lake — a very small one — is situated at 

 his gate and usually dries up in summer, but in 1915 it did 

 not do so. On two little hills in the centre a pair of Swans 

 and several wild ducks brought off young, and it was in 

 shooting the latter that his son obtained this bird. No 

 Grebes have since been noticed at this piece of water, but the 

 whole locality is ideal, being studded with lakes great or 

 small. As only one youngster was killed, it is reasonable 

 to hope that the species is maintaining itself unobserved in 

 that area. 



Nothing further was heard of Black -necked Grebes breeding 

 in Ireland until on June i8th, 1918, Mr. Williams received 

 in the flesh a male and female in full summer plumage and 

 three young in down. They were all presented to our National 

 Museum in Dublin by the shooter, who desired no publicity 

 whatsoever — a quite intelligible position when the whole 

 family of a rare species has been wiped out. 



I do not know if others were breeding in company with 

 them — this species has a tendency to breed in colonies — 

 although Mr. Williams assumed such to be the case because of 

 the disparity in size and age of the chicks received, and which 

 he therefore considered to belong to different broods. This, 

 however, is unconvincing, particularly if their habits coincide 

 with those of Great Crested Grebes, which allow a considerable 

 time — even four or five days — to elapse between the laying 

 of their eggs. 



Owing to the veil drawn over the entire episode it has not 

 been possible to locate the precise spot where the birds were 

 obtained, but it was in the west of Ireland also, south of the 

 first record. 



When so many sheets of Irish waters are plentifully fre- 

 quented by Grebes a sharp look-out should be kept over the 

 country for this species, which is showing such a tendency 

 to extend its summer range in the British Isles. And now 

 that its breeding in Ireland has been definitely established 

 on two occasions, I hope it will be given a chance in future 

 and spared whenever met. C. J. Carroll. 



